How to Get a Share Code for UK Immigration Status

A right to work share code is a 9-character digital pass that lets you prove your UK immigration status to employers without showing physical documents. The Home Office system, built under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, generates codes starting with the letter “W” that remain valid for 90 days.

Official Access Point: view-immigration-status.service.gov.uk | Primary Purpose: Prove right to work to employers | Additional Uses: Prove immigration status to landlords or for travel | Top Government Source: www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work | Required Input: Date of birth

How do I get a share code?

Sign in requirements

To generate a share code, you must have a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account — GOV.UK. You’ll have one if you’ve applied to the EU Settlement Scheme, used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app, or created one when applying for a visa. Sign in using your account credentials and receive a six-digit security code by text or email — UK Immigration Guidance.

Step-by-step process

Navigate to view-immigration-status.service.gov.uk and sign in. You’ll need your biometric residence permit or card number, your passport or national ID card, and access to your UKVI email or phone verification — UK Immigration Guidance. Scroll to the share code section, enter your details, and generate the code. Each code is valid for 90 days from generation — GOV.UK.

Date of birth entry

When prompted, enter your date of birth in the required format. This information, combined with your share code, allows employers to verify your status through the official GOV.UK Employer Checking Service.

“Each code is valid for 90 days and only individuals, not employers, can create them.”

— UK Immigration Guidance, YouTube official guidance

What is a share code UK?

Purpose for employers

A right to work share code is a unique 9-character alphanumeric code generated by the UK Home Office that allows workers to digitally prove their employment authorisation in real-time — MGBe Legal. When an employer enters a share code and date of birth into the Home Office checking service, they receive instant access to the worker’s current immigration status, work permission, and any restrictions — MGBe Legal.

Uses beyond work

The share code system represents a fundamental shift from document-based verification to database-driven authentication — MGBe Legal. You can use your share code to prove immigration status to landlords or for travel purposes. The system operates under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, with updated regulations reflecting the government’s digital-first approach — MGBe Legal.

Link to eVisa

Since the UK transitioned to a digital immigration system and moved from physical Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) to eVisas, share codes have become the standard way for most non-British and non-Irish workers to verify employment eligibility — 1st Formations. The share code checking service is available 24/7 through any internet connection — MGBe Legal.

How do I check a share code UK?

Employer verification steps

Go to the official GOV.UK Employer Checking Service. Enter the share code provided by the worker and their date of birth. The system will display the types of work permitted, how long permission lasts, any restrictions, the individual’s photograph, and the date the check took place — 1st Formations.

What the checker sees

Employers see only necessary work-related information through the share code system, not full immigration history — MGBe Legal. Direct database connection in the share code system should make document forgery impossible — MGBe Legal.

Common issues

The only valid way to verify right to work digitally is through the official gov.uk employer checking service; screenshots or emails from applicants do not count — Rippling. If a code appears invalid, the employer should request a new one from the employee.

“All right-to-work share codes begin with the letter ‘W’, which distinguishes them from other Home Office codes – such as right-to-rent codes, which begin with different letters.”

— 1st Formations, business formation and compliance service

How do I get share code right to work?

Eligibility check

Only some people need to give a share code; usually anyone who can’t prove their right to work with a UK or Irish passport — Rippling. People with a valid UK or Irish passport do not need a share code, but employers must see the original passport and keep a clear copy on file — Rippling.

Proof to employers

You automatically have the right to work if you are a British or Irish citizen, have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, have indefinite leave to enter or remain, have a family permit from the EU Settlement Scheme, or have right of abode — 1st Formations. EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme must provide a share code to prove their right to work — Humaans.

Integration with HR systems

Non-UK nationals from outside the EU/EEA who have a biometric residence permit, biometric residence card, or digital immigration status must generate a share code for employment verification — Humaans. Migrant workers and international students must provide a share code as part of the verification process, which will show any restrictions on the types of jobs they can perform — Humaans.

What about settled status share code?

Settled vs pre-settled

EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens with settled or pre-settled status can create a share code through the ‘View and Prove Your Immigration Status’ online service using their biometric residence card number, biometric residence permit number, or passport/national identity card — Humaans.

Right to live share code

A right to live share code proves your indefinite leave to remain status. The code generated through GOV.UK serves multiple purposes including proving your immigration status to employers, landlords, and for travel documentation.

Travel and rental uses

Share codes work beyond employment verification. You can use them to prove immigration status to landlords during tenancy applications or when required for travel documentation purposes. The same code may be shared across different verification scenarios within its 90-day validity period.

“The share code system represents a fundamental shift from document-based verification to database-driven authentication.”

— MGBe Legal, legal guidance provider

Related reading: HMRC Simple Assessment Letters: Verify and Respond Guide · Monthly Salary Calculator UK

Once obtained via the GOV.UK portal, your immigration status share code allows employers, landlords or agencies to verify your status digitally in seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official Resources

• Get a share code online — GOV.UK
• Employer Checking Service — GOV.UK
• View and Prove Your Immigration Status — GOV.UK
• EU Settlement Scheme — GOV.UK

The system represents a significant modernisation of UK immigration verification, moving from paper-based document checks to real-time digital authentication that directly connects employers with Home Office databases.